cerebral palsy/ stopped eating

• By leakeama
• Posted September 23, 2008 at 7:49 am
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No, I don't have a situation like your friends. But is she invloved in a feeding clinic? What do the doctors think it is, if it isn't related to CP?

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• By preemiegirl
• Posted September 23, 2008 at 9:42 am
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My former 24 weeker had the same problem but she started at a much younger age. When she was about 6 months she just stopped eating. She had reflux but was on prevacid to control it. We noticed she used to wrench her back and scream, and vomit alot during feedings. One day she just finallly stopped taking the bottle. We took her to the ER and they admitted her for a week to run various tests. They found out her reflux was really bad and it caused an erosion on her esophagus(esophagitis). Therefore, it would hurt her whenever she swallowed anything. She developed oral aversion ever since. She is now 2, on a gtube, eating pureed solids with pediasure which she gets through her tube. We are working with speech to get her to drink more by mouth. I believe once this has been accomplished she can get off the tube. I would advice your friend to get with the her pediatrian ASAP so they can recommend her to GI and start assessing the situation to see what is causing this. Oral Aversion is no joke and its really hard to get them to eat once they have to stopped. All the best.

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• By 1pair-n-1spare
• Posted September 23, 2008 at 12:57 pm
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I heartily agree with PreemieGirl's assessment. It sounds like the child had GER that went unchecked for a while. This does happen, as it did with my own daughter. We had a doctor who kept saying my Julia's food aversion had nothing to do with GER and had to do with her CP. Well, it took 7 months later, us firing this doctor and getting a new one to find out that it WAS GER and we had to start all over again. Luckily, Julia was only 13 months old then. Starting with a willful 3 year old is going to be TOUGH, especially when they have been literally burned.

I wish your friend luck and hope she finds a really great GI who will help. Sometimes the docs will do a Fundo (otherwise known as a Nissen) on kids who have serious GER and food issues.

Lisa
Boston
1pair - n - 1 spare

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• By TraceyB
• Posted January 5, 2009 at 12:17 pm
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I'm not an expert with preemies, but my 7 year old has CP. When he was about 2 years of age, he began to vomit and was diagnosed with severe reflux/GERD. Prior to that, he had been progressing as most babies and transitioning to regular 'people' food. After 6 months of force-feeding him, they finally gave him a g-tube. If possible, get into a feeding clinic as quickly as possible. Even though physically Luke is able to eat, he doesn't willingly do so. PLUS, it's taken us 3 years just to get him past the gagging and vomiting as a result of the mds waiting so long to go with the g-tube. He's willing to eat most foods now (in very tiny portions), but is still g-tube fed since it's easier for him than chewing all the food needed.

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